11-13 Feb #1703

11-13 Feb #1703

Weekend edition

R25.00
No. 1703 ISSN 1023 / 6996
FAIRVIEW VAAL INNER
5
page 9 page 8
FRIDAY 11 - SUNDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2011
th th
12:30pm (Friday) p.21 12:25pm (Saturday) p.28
KENILWORTH
12:45pm (Saturday) p.40
SCOTTSVILLE
12:40pm (Sunday) p.47
BORROWDALE
12:50pm (Sunday) p.55
How The International World Sees The Cape Sale ROBYN LOUW Down The Rabbit Hole
page 13
Tribute To A Champion
page 11
Qatar Veterinary Delegation Visit Star of the Week Charl Pretorious
page 14
Fairview Mile at Fairview on Friday
With no black type on offer, the weekend's highlight is the Fairview Mile on Friday. It's the usual suspects that form the bulk of the line up and with the conditions of the race favouring those with the higher merit ratings, there don't look to be too many that can win it....
6th Leading Sire & Sire Gr1 Mother Russia
YEARLINGS AT THE 2011 SALES
Highlands sires - ANTONIUS PIUS (USA) � DYNASTY � IMPERIAL STRIDE (GB) � JALLAD (USA) � SPECTRUM (IRE) � WINDRUSH (USA)
WINDRUSH
(USA)
Our Best Adverts Aren't Written They Are Running!
HIGHLANDS
Tel: Mike Sharkey 082 372 2682 www.highlandsfarmstud.co.za
2
Seven more winners this week, all of them graduates of the most prolific programme in racing.
SPORTING POST � FRIDAY 11th - SUNDAY 13th FEBRUARY 2011
SUMMERHILL AND THE READY TO RUN MARK II
1st Hollywoodboulevard in the Three Troikas (Gr3) for Charles Laird 1st Maji Moto by 6.75 lengths for Leon Erasmus Selling 55 Lots 1st Black Wing by 2.5 lengths for Paul Gadsby NO RESERVE 1st Ice Axe first timer by 4.75 lengths for Charles Laird st Maiden (twice in three days) for Joey Ramsden 23rd February 1 Grail 1st Oochee Agent by 2.25 lengths for Paul Matchett Hollywoodboulevard
season 2010/2011: 1 August 2010 - 6 February 2011
top earner with stakes & % of total stakes jockey rides wins win % fav fav % wfav % 2nd 2nd % 1st 1st four four% stakes stks/ rides
www.summerhill.co.za
Call: Linda Norval 033 263 1081
LEADING BREEDERS BY STAKES
season 2010/2011: 1 August 2010 - 6 February 2011
AEPR runs wnrs wns wnr/ rnr% SW SW SW/ wnrs wns wnr% plcs plc/ SP rns% stakes breeder rnrs
LEADING JOCKEYS BY WINS
7,478,760 5,366,047 3,806,759 3,749,907 3,457,130 3,045,701 2,985,025 2,958,363 2,900,269 2,899,920 2,657,613 2,537,850 2,447,204 2,287,323 2,282,495 2,054,177 1,993,964 1,969,152 1,776,633 1,670,450 1,466,881 1,446,639 1,427,345 1,410,447 1,328,400 1,302,700 1,175,348 1,114,275
Summerhill Stud Klawervlei Stud Lammerskraal Stud Highlands Maine Chance D Cohen & sons Graystone Stud Normandy Stud Mauritzfontein Stud Varsfontein Stud Gary Player Stud Adv AP Joubert Scott Bros Hyjo Stud Wilgerbosdrift Avontuur Farm Daytona Stud Ascot Stud La Plaisance Stud **bred in Brazil GH Rowles Cheveley Stud The Alchemy WJ Engelbrecht CJ Saunders Waterford Stud Drakenstein Stud Oldlands Stud
250 186 80 134 108 95 57 50 77 81 101 56 123 27 86 58 40 74 69 54 49 53 81 31 60 76 21 52
29,915 28,850 47,584 27,984 32,010 32,060 52,369 59,167 37,666 35,801 26,313 45,319 19,896 84,716 26,541 35,417 49,849 26,610 25,748 30,934 29,936 27,295 17,622 45,498 22,140 17,141 55,969 21,428
1145 700 381 542 403 456 310 235 258 362 426 218 457 120 327 219 181 299 265 245 223 213 344 126 254 361 109 220
74 56 30 42 33 31 25 17 26 25 30 15 29 8 25 20 15 21 24 17 15 17 15 6 13 15 13 15
98 76 45 53 42 44 39 21 32 38 39 18 33 15 32 27 22 33 28 21 24 22 19 7 19 19 20 17
30% 30% 38% 31% 31% 33% 44% 34% 34% 31% 30% 27% 24% 30% 29% 34% 38% 28% 35% 31% 31% 32% 19% 19% 22% 20% 62% 29%
5 4 3 1 4 1 1 1 4 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 2 1 0 1 0
5 4 4 1 4 2 1 1 4 5 2 2 1 2 1 2 3 2 1 2 0 0 1 3 1 0 1 0
7% 7% 10% 2% 12% 3% 4% 6% 15% 12% 3% 7% 3% 13% 4% 10% 7% 5% 4% 6% 0% 0% 7% 33% 8% 0% 8% 0%
283 174 107 144 111 140 95 63 85 92 121 53 108 19 96 68 53 67 84 75 56 63 79 31 57 80 44 46
25% 25% 28% 27% 28% 31% 31% 27% 33% 25% 28% 24% 24% 16% 29% 31% 29% 22% 32% 31% 25% 30% 23% 25% 22% 22% 40% 21%
6 6 6 4 3 1 3 3 2 1 3 3 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 0 1 2 2 1 0 1 2
Arabian Mist 308,500 Emerald Cove 805,054 Solo Traveller 852,609 Snowdon 173,750 Run For It 602,975 A Daughters Legacy 187,500 End Of Season 324,100 Mother Russia 1,585,000 Iron Curtain 397,000 Covenant 646,750 Sangria Girl 293,625 Flirtation 1,503,125 The Apache 387,500 Past Master 1,690,898 Kavanagh 275,000 Alderry 383,250 What A Winter 735,054 Rich Strike 273,300 Rosie Tibb 122,970 Ilsanpietro 249,500 What Next 152,225 Jo Piper 111,150 Gaultier 153,750 Ebony Flyer 720,109 Take Over Target 229,725 Leprecorns Gift 142,875 Croc Valley 219,375 Hot Tip 191,900
4% 15% 22% 5% 17% 6% 11% 54% 14% 22% 11% 59% 16% 74% 12% 19% 37% 14% 7% 15% 10% 8% 11% 51% 17% 11% 19% 17%
season 2010/2011: 1 August 2010 - 6 February 2011
stakes sire rnrs AEPR runs wnrs wns wnr/ rnr% SW SW SW/ wnrs wns wnr% plcs plc/ SP rns% top earner with stakes & % of total stakes
LEADING SIRES BY STAKES
7,143,539 6,542,594 6,296,447 5,781,503 3,964,431 3,936,083 3,810,445 3,031,250 2,857,110 2,702,436 2,580,954 2,379,122 2,375,450 2,363,377 2,300,200 2,107,770 1,958,360 1,866,401 1,856,081 1,739,212 1,714,159 1,665,080 1,628,395 1,594,805 1,526,592 1,426,760 1,376,255 1,343,125
Jet Master Captain Al Western Winter Silvano Kahal Windrush Fort Wood Muhtafal National Emblem Al Mufti Jallad Var Dynasty Mogok Announce *Strike Smartly National Assembly Doowaley Casey Tibbs **Galileo *Victory Moon Parade Leader Count Dubois Lecture Bezrin The Sheik Caesour Malhub
161 161 110 144 141 73 137 76 139 96 110 89 72 111 51 67 70 73 91 17 77 69 55 67 51 67 76 60
44,370 40,637 57,240 40,149 28,117 53,919 27,813 39,885 20,555 28,150 23,463 26,732 32,992 21,292 45,102 31,459 27,977 25,567 20,396 102,307 22,262 24,132 29,607 23,803 29,933 21,295 18,109 22,385
653 690 453 549 626 322 497 299 568 399 387 338 311 438 280 267 268 356 356 74 317 346 211 284 248 283 322 267
43 65 43 48 38 23 43 27 41 22 30 31 22 25 20 23 23 21 23 11 17 17 20 22 16 15 17 17
60 89 72 60 49 32 55 42 47 27 36 38 27 29 31 29 32 28 29 18 22 19 22 30 23 22 20 20
27% 40% 39% 33% 27% 32% 31% 36% 29% 23% 27% 35% 31% 23% 39% 34% 33% 29% 25% 65% 22% 25% 36% 33% 31% 22% 22% 28%
3 4 7 2 3 2 2 3 1 3 1 0 1 2 1 2 0 0 0 1 2 1 2 0 1 0 0 0
5 4 12 3 3 3 2 3 1 3 1 0 1 2 1 3 0 0 0 1 2 1 2 0 1 0 0 0
7% 6% 16% 4% 8% 9% 5% 11% 2% 14% 3% 0% 5% 8% 5% 9% 0% 0% 0% 9% 12% 6% 10% 0% 6% 0% 0% 0%
211 32% 9 199 29% 10 135 30% 7 148 27% 8 158 25% 5 95 30% 3 129 26% 1 87 29% 1 140 25% 2 98 25% 1 106 27% 5 103 30% 2 94 30% 3 110 25% 0 86 31% 1 88 33% 2 66 25% 2 87 24% 1 88 25% 2 23 31% 4 96 30% 1 91 26% 3 60 28% 1 60 21% 2 54 22% 1 62 22% 0 78 24% 0 64 24% 2
Past Master Emerald Cove Solo Traveller Flirtation Tales of Bravery Mother Russia Iron Curtain Arabian Mist Shea Shea Top Seller Ozymandias Variety Run For It The Apache End Of Season Rich Strike In Like Flynn Pergamon Alter Rosie Tibb Igugu Mystic Moon Pierre Jourdan Fair Rosalind Eastern Parade Celtic Fire Delightfull Diva Vestal Virgin Waging War
1,690,898 805,054 852,609 1,503,125 519,441 1,585,000 397,000 308,500 236,250 461,852 205,675 214,100 602,975 387,500 324,100 273,300 160,240 132,370 122,970 643,125 186,425 210,000 168,000 132,250 246,125 241,275 103,125 137,275
24% 12% 14% 26% 13% 40% 10% 10% 8% 17% 8% 9% 25% 16% 14% 13% 8% 7% 7% 37% 11% 13% 10% 8% 16% 17% 7% 10%
A Delpech A Marcus M Yeni K Neisius P Strydom M Byleveld K Teetan S Brown J Van Der Merwe A Fortune B Fayd'herbe M van Rensburg D David S Khumalo S Randolph B Lerena R Simons F Coetzee G Lerena D Daniels A Domeyer R Danielson W Kennedy F Chambers W Agrella F Herholdt K Shea G Schlechter S Veale M Mienie G Figueroa E Pheiffer G Wrogemann A Forbes D Mansour G Hatt J Jordaan I Sturgeon N Juglall F Naude G Wright K Zechner L Nhlapo M Winnaar G Van Niekerk M Neisius
476 292 598 341 371 550 523 608 500 519 224 435 433 609 301 486 482 334 412 335 327 303 361 281 201 460 163 417 228 247 324 334 295 290 246 121 291 194 250 387 246 208 269 189 206 170
97 75 63 63 61 61 60 56 54 54 53 42 41 39 38 36 36 35 35 34 32 32 30 30 30 29 28 28 27 26 26 25 23 23 22 22 21 20 19 18 17 17 16 14 13 13
20% 26% 11% 18% 16% 11% 11% 9% 11% 10% 24% 10% 9% 6% 13% 7% 7% 10% 8% 10% 10% 11% 8% 11% 15% 6% 17% 7% 12% 11% 8% 7% 8% 8% 9% 18% 7% 10% 8% 5% 7% 8% 6% 7% 6% 8%
147 126 50 108 108 84 58 57 41 105 84 30 36 35 39 39 33 74 38 22 28 13 61 19 36 42 37 36 27 27 28 13 20 29 22 19 25 16 12 21 6 4 2 8 6 15
31% 43% 8% 32% 29% 15% 11% 9% 8% 20% 38% 7% 8% 6% 13% 8% 7% 22% 9% 7% 9% 4% 17% 7% 18% 9% 23% 9% 12% 11% 9% 4% 7% 10% 9% 16% 9% 8% 5% 5% 2% 2% 1% 4% 3% 9%
36% 38% 26% 31% 34% 30% 31% 33% 39% 26% 37% 23% 31% 29% 33% 23% 45% 23% 18% 27% 29% 54% 21% 42% 36% 21% 35% 19% 19% 41% 21% 23% 40% 21% 36% 42% 24% 25% 33% 19% 67% 75% 50% 38% 50% 27%
69 42 66 49 53 65 56 63 46 70 35 27 35 53 24 65 42 48 41 27 30 27 41 19 21 32 22 40 22 30 34 12 19 21 20 10 33 15 13 21 17 11 13 16 19 20
14% 14% 11% 14% 14% 12% 11% 10% 9% 13% 16% 6% 8% 9% 8% 13% 9% 14% 10% 8% 9% 9% 11% 7% 10% 7% 13% 10% 10% 12% 10% 4% 6% 7% 8% 8% 11% 8% 5% 5% 7% 5% 5% 8% 9% 12%
278 182 236 186 197 239 203 258 194 245 136 152 146 190 118 161 158 160 172 118 126 112 134 97 100 150 81 144 96 97 114 75 79 99 81 56 101 77 64 85 65 59 67 69 53 63
58% 62% 39% 55% 53% 43% 39% 42% 39% 47% 61% 35% 34% 31% 39% 33% 33% 48% 42% 35% 39% 37% 37% 35% 50% 33% 50% 35% 42% 39% 35% 22% 27% 34% 33% 46% 35% 40% 26% 22% 26% 28% 25% 37% 26% 37%
7,202,870 6,471,704 3,742,068 4,792,752 4,506,080 3,897,341 3,535,131 3,969,250 3,492,312 4,047,662 4,417,743 2,375,662 3,516,845 2,721,425 2,240,119 3,038,320 4,360,000 3,729,737 2,946,075 1,931,984 2,227,001 2,633,042 1,899,825 2,068,325 1,545,225 2,106,855 2,250,112 3,692,830 1,629,654 2,445,600 3,197,725 1,168,100 1,642,125 1,427,661 1,697,050 1,493,809 1,712,998 1,253,637 1,425,350 1,309,050 1,051,060 918,487 821,825 990,450 942,960 974,910
15,132 22,163 6,258 14,055 12,146 7,086 6,759 6,528 6,985 7,799 19,722 5,461 8,122 4,469 7,442 6,252 9,046 11,167 7,151 5,767 6,810 8,690 5,263 7,361 7,688 4,580 13,804 8,856 7,148 9,901 9,870 3,497 5,567 4,923 6,899 12,346 5,887 6,462 5,701 3,383 4,273 4,416 3,055 5,240 4,577 5,735
LEADING TRAINERS BY STAKES
season 2010/2011: 1 August 2010 - 6 February 2011
runs wins win % fav fav % wfav % 2nd 2nd % 1st 1st four four% stakes trainer stks/ runs
LEADING SIRES OF 3YO'S BY STAKES
season 2010/2011: 1 August 2010 - 6 February 2011
AEPR runs wnrs wns wnr/ rnr% SW SW SW/ wnrs wns wnr% plcs plc/ SP rns% stakes sire rnrs top earner with stakes & % of total stakes
4,115,487 3,198,963 2,130,494 1,796,140 1,682,832 1,470,565 1,466,900 1,417,955 1,337,905 1,199,285 1,115,459 1,092,175 1,082,585
Western Winter Captain Al Jet Master Var Silvano Fort Wood Dynasty Kahal Count Dubois **Galileo * Victory Moon Street Cry Tiger Ridge
47 87,564 64 49,984 59 36,110 54 33,262 68 24,748 54 27,233 31 47,319 59 24,033 42 31,855 7 171,326 41 27,206 1 1,092,175 38 28,489
203 279 221 239 226 184 131 241 162 25 173 5 133
25 32 18 24 23 21 12 16 16 5 11 1 13
44 53% 41 50% 21 31% 29 44% 30 34% 25 39% 15 39% 20 27% 18 38% 9 71% 16 27% 4 100% 15 34%
3 2 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 1 1 1 1
8 2 2 0 0 0 1 1 2 1 1 2 1
12% 6% 6% 0% 0% 0% 8% 6% 13% 20% 9% 100% 8%
67 33% 4 73 26% 3 68 31% 3 74 31% 1 61 27% 1 46 25% 0 45 34% 1 58 24% 1 44 27% 1 9 36% 3 56 32% 1 1 20% 0 39 29% 3
Solo Traveller Emerald Cove Ebony Flyer Variety M'Lords Throat Justthewayyouare Run For It Pisces Star Fair Rosalind Igugu Mystic Moon Hollywoodboulevard Kavanagh
852,609 805,054 720,109 214,100 160,900 153,625 602,975 167,825 168,000 643,125 186,425 1,092,175 275,000
21% 25% 34% 12% 10% 10% 41% 12% 13% 54% 17% 100% 25%
LEADING SIRES OF 2YO'S BY STAKES
season 2010/2011: 1 August 2010 - 6 February 2011
AEPR runs wnrs wns wnr/ rnr% SW SW SW/ wnrs wns wnr% plcs plc/ SP rns% stakes sire rnrs top earner with stakes & % of total stakes
159,600 148,650 141,845 132,550 125,050 102,635
Captain Al Var * Victory Moon Windrush King Of Kings Lecture * Stallion dead
12 12 3 5 6 6
13,300 12,388 47,282 26,510 20,842 17,106
18 16 5 10 10 11
2 2 2 3 2 2
3 2 2 3 3 2
17% 17% 67% 60% 33% 33%
0 0 1 0 0 0
0 0% 0 0% 1 50% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
7 39% 0 7 44% 0 1 20% 0 3 30% 0 1 10% 0 4 36% 1
Trinity House Marble Drum Princess Victoria Blow Me A Kiss Indigo Princess Royal Tribe
76,860 47,750 90,095 51,100 82,350 45,000
48% 32% 64% 39% 66% 44%
** Stallion Not Standing in RSA
** Breeding operations not based in RSA
MF de Kock J Snaith MW Bass J Ramsden CS Laird GV Woodruff PF Matchett AC Greeff SD Gray GD Smith DR Hodgson SG Tarry GS Kotzen G v Zyl D Kannemeyer VH Marshall LJ Erasmus DR Drier OA Ferraris AG Laird RR Magner PAC Miller Y Bremner Y Govender WH Marwing KG Naidoo GR Puller MG Azzie DC Howells BJ Steenkamp D Zaki GM Alexander BO Wiid ELP Steyn M Wiese AJ Rivalland ST Pettigrew BD Botes G Paddock GW Ennion V Rugg DN Stenger M Dixon E Verdonese S Moffatt C Binda
435 673 553 498 195 360 471 573 293 714 151 381 501 223 355 299 482 237 155 231 295 352 319 271 175 326 329 159 238 314 275 225 184 282 303 128 159 196 205 116 181 171 161 140 166 163
75 83 76 65 38 46 44 60 41 48 17 29 30 32 36 23 28 34 28 29 23 45 36 32 26 29 26 26 26 26 11 12 18 16 23 17 13 13 15 15 28 12 15 12 16 13
17% 12% 14% 13% 19% 13% 9% 10% 14% 7% 11% 8% 6% 14% 10% 8% 6% 14% 18% 13% 8% 13% 11% 12% 15% 9% 8% 16% 11% 8% 4% 5% 10% 6% 8% 13% 8% 7% 7% 13% 15% 7% 9% 9% 10% 8%
122 105 103 69 54 58 38 66 42 84 16 54 36 31 47 18 22 45 31 28 25 63 35 45 29 20 24 26 34 20 24 14 21 12 18 15 16 17 24 7 24 9 8 1 16 17
28% 16% 19% 14% 28% 16% 8% 12% 14% 12% 11% 14% 7% 14% 13% 6% 5% 19% 20% 12% 8% 18% 11% 17% 17% 6% 7% 16% 14% 6% 9% 6% 11% 4% 6% 12% 10% 9% 12% 6% 13% 5% 5% 1% 10% 10%
38% 30% 32% 39% 37% 29% 50% 32% 48% 21% 38% 19% 25% 45% 30% 33% 23% 31% 52% 36% 20% 37% 31% 33% 28% 25% 38% 35% 18% 40% 13% 36% 38% 17% 28% 33% 25% 29% 25% 57% 29% 22% 25% 0% 63% 29%
51 83 72 40 20 36 40 54 43 59 19 44 49 21 33 23 32 27 21 23 29 37 32 28 21 25 22 13 23 20 27 10 12 26 17 12 12 11 21 7 21 13 14 12 8 11
12% 12% 13% 8% 10% 10% 8% 9% 15% 8% 13% 12% 10% 9% 9% 8% 7% 11% 14% 10% 10% 11% 10% 10% 12% 8% 7% 8% 10% 6% 10% 4% 7% 9% 6% 9% 8% 6% 10% 6% 12% 8% 9% 9% 5% 7%
218 312 255 184 102 150 164 211 137 230 69 122 170 106 143 100 132 109 84 93 122 155 127 108 72 107 113 68 98 101 95 60 58 91 80 48 63 72 70 33 80 45 61 46 46 54
50% 46% 46% 37% 52% 42% 35% 37% 47% 32% 46% 32% 34% 48% 40% 33% 27% 46% 54% 40% 41% 44% 40% 40% 41% 33% 34% 43% 41% 32% 35% 27% 32% 32% 26% 38% 40% 37% 34% 28% 44% 26% 38% 33% 28% 33%
9,827,091 7,809,822 6,395,181 4,146,417 3,948,562 3,646,700 3,549,262 3,361,687 3,231,725 3,025,812 2,643,668 2,509,700 2,426,901 2,414,136 2,262,573 2,198,320 2,159,025 2,137,825 2,129,500 2,103,912 2,069,325 1,942,875 1,935,625 1,893,891 1,828,550 1,757,836 1,740,970 1,738,300 1,595,484 1,424,587 1,382,000 1,323,700 1,220,425 1,214,815 1,202,970 1,097,800 1,084,050 1,001,825 1,000,925 968,715 958,800 940,975 914,175 908,875 906,075 902,575
22,591 11,604 11,565 8,326 20,249 10,130 7,536 5,867 11,030 4,238 17,508 6,587 4,844 10,826 6,373 7,352 4,479 9,020 13,739 9,108 7,015 5,520 6,068 6,989 10,449 5,392 5,292 10,933 6,704 4,537 5,025 5,883 6,633 4,308 3,970 8,577 6,818 5,111 4,883 8,351 5,297 5,503 5,678 6,492 5,458 5,537
Malhub
MALHUB: HE'S HEARD THE MUSIC
Two more "strikers" this week by a combined 10 lengths.
1st Maji Moto by 6.75 lengths for Leon Erasmus 1st Midnight Serenade juvenile winner by 3.25 lengths for Diane Stenger
www.summerhill.co.za
SOLSKJAER NETS A WINNER
If you were watching Clairwood Sunday, you'd be forgiven thinking it was the great footballer all over again.
1st Ice Axe by 4.75 lengths on debut for Ingrid & Markus Jooste and Charles Laird
Solskjaer
READY TO RUN MARK II 23 February, Shongweni
rd
Selling 8 lots
Call: Linda Norval 033 263 1081
Selling 17 lots
4
Burning Bright
Day Of The Pipera dangerous frontrunner
SPORTING POST � FRIDAY 11th - SUNDAY 13th FEBRUARY 2011
FAIRVIEW MILE over 1600m at Fairview on Friday
With no black type on offer, the weekend's highlight is the Fairview Mile on Friday. It's the usual suspects that form the bulk of the line up and with the conditions of the race favouring those with the higher merit ratings, there don't look to be too many that can win it, writes STEVE FURNISH.
of his seven wins in the Eastern Cape have been gained at this circuit. On paper, Day Of The Piper only has Celtic Fire and Vangelis to beat. He's a very dangerous customer when given a soft lead. Beware! As with the stable of Gavin Smith though, a younger up and coming equine athlete, namely All Ablaze, could prove to be the biggest runner from the yard. Not the soundest of characters, All Ablaze has been a little in and out in recent months. He does command a very powerful turn of foot on his day though, as he showed when flying up late to beat Celtic Fire on 2,5kg worse terms in the non black type Friendly City Stakes over 1800m at Arlington in August. All Ablaze hasn't won in four starts since then, but he was again finishing the stronger when only beaten a neck on 1kg more favourable terms behind D J Detzky over 1400m last time out. All Ablaze has his third run after a short break here and Felix Coetzee takes the ride. Expect a big run. Clearly below best of late, Mazar-E-Sharif has failed to find the winner's enclosure in ten starts beyond 1400m. Malabar One of three 7yo's in the race, the former Cape Town campaigner Malabar has gained all three of his wins in the Eastern Cape at this circuit. Not usually the quickest into stride, this grey son of Fard clearly enjoys the long home straight here. He would be thereabouts if reproducing his second to Hawk's Eye in the Gr3 Algoa Cup earlier in the season, but he has been well beaten by both Celtic Fire and Day Of The Piper in his most recent starts and he was reported as being lame last time out. Barry's Bid At the weights, the best of Barry Steenkamp's two runners must surely be the only female in the race, Thunderous Belinda. Mainly campaigned against her own sex, Thunderous Belinda has only managed to get her head in front once in her last sixteen starts and now up against the boys, and out at the weights with the best of them to boot, she is not easy to fancy. Stable companion Desert Kite has won two of his last three starts and is probably a tad better than his current mark in the handicap would suggest. Even worse in at the weights though, Desert Kite has to concede 0,5kg to his stable companion here and she is rated 15 points superior. Treading Water Representing the stable of Mitch Wiese are Cannonball and Mcintosh. Both have been battling to win in lesser company of late and badly out at the weights here, cannot be seriously fancied. First Honour Very highly regarded earlier in his career, First Honour finished a runner up in the prestigious Gr2 Selangor Cup in 2007, and in that season went on to contest both the Western Cape and Natal Guineas. Since returning from a six month layoff in Nov '08 though, he's been a shadow of his former self and has only managed one win in seventeen outings. On his previous best ever mark in the handicap of 100 he is best in at the weights here and he is having his third run since relocating to the Eastern Cape. If there is to be a major upset in the race, then First Honour could be it. About The Pace They usually set off at a fair clip in the Eastern Cape and with a number of candidates for the role of frontrunner amongst the thirteen here, at least a fair pace can be expected. Celtic Fire is the best in at the weights and he does appear to be still improving. He gets the vote, but big runs can also be expected from both All Ablaze and D J Detzky.
B
est in at the weights is the Yvette Bremner trained Celtic Fire. This son of Bezrin has shown tremendous improvement this season and as a result his merit rating has shot up to 107 from 88. He completed a very smart hattrick when winning the listed Memorial Mile at Arlington in December, where, on similar terms, he had two of today's major rivals behind him. Celtic Fire has been taking on the best in Cape Town in each of his last two starts and although it was no surprise to most that he didn't make the frame, he was nonetheless far from disgraced. He's won his last two starts over 1600m in the Eastern Cape with authority and he does go particularly well over today's course and distance. He won't be easy to beat. Gavin's Trio One of two very strong couplings in the race is that of
Gavin Smith who saddles all of Vangelis, D J Detzky and Wood Be Magic. Vangelis has the highest rating of the three and interestingly, after finishing a runner up in 2009, he did win this race last year. He's gained eight of his twelve career victories over today's distance and five of those successes were gained over this trip. For the first time in his career, this 7yo son of Kahal is without a win in eleven starts now though and he has been comfortably beaten by Celtic Fire (most notably last time out at levels) in each of his last three starts. Possibly more of a threat from the stable then could be the 4yo D J Detzky. From the same generation as Celtic Fire, D J Detzky has also shown good improvement during the course of the past twelve months and having run on well to win last time out, he is clearly at the top of his game. D J Detzky won the listed KZN Breeders Stakes over 1600m at Clairwood in July,
but interestingly, he hasn't managed to win in four starts over today's trip. This son of Announce was only beaten three quarters of a length by Celtic Fire on 0,5kg worse terms over today's course and distance when they met in November though and a reproduction of that effort would make him a very serious runner here. Yet to race over a trip shorter than 2000m since arriving in the Eastern Cape, the 6yo Wood Be Magic has not won over a trip this short this landing the Xmas Handicap at Clairwood over two years ago. He also has quite a bit to find at the weights here. Alan's Coupling The highest rated of trainer Alan Greeff's three runners is the gutsy 7yo Day Of The Piper. At his best from the front, this son of Joshua Dancer has proven to be most effective between 1400m and 1800m, and what is particularly interesting here is that all
SPORTING POST � FRIDAY 11th - SUNDAY 13th FEBRUARY 2011
5
Mike de Kock's Dubai Team
The Winning Formula
powered by
WON SILV BOLD SILV ANO
A container of the new EPOL MDK Speedmax racefeed was shipped from South Africa to Dubai for Mike de Kock's Racing Team.
The stable's devastating form at the 2011 Dubai Racing Carnival continued at Meydan on Thursday evening with four winners on the eight-race programme. This time fed exclusively on Epol MDK Speedmax and roughage. SA-bred BOLD SILVANO won the $US200 000 Al Maktoum Challenge (Round 2), over 1900m on the All-Weather. MAHBOOBA won the $250,000 UAE Guineas SA-bred STAR EMPIRE won a $175,000 handicap over 2485m
WON MAHBOOBA
WON STAR STAR EMPIRE
WARSAW beat the favourite in a 1400m handicap on turf
WON WARSAW
Makes you think, doesn't it!
Three Formulas that Fuel Champions!
Mike's feed now available in South Africa
6
SPORTING POST � FRIDAY 11th - SUNDAY 13th FEBRUARY 2011 Hollywoodboulevard - beat Without Malice by four lengths in the Fillies Mile last November
Gr3 Three Troikas Stakes at Turffontein last Saturday
Hollywoodboulevard has struck up a highly profitable relationship with jockey Willie Figueroa and the combination is now undefeated from four joint efforts after Hollywoodboulevard justified favouritism in the Three Troikas Stakes over 1450m on the Turffontein inner course on Saturday, writes MATTHEW LIPS.
he veteran rider fondly known as "Figgy" first p a r t n e r e d Hollywoodboulevard when she capsized red-hot favourite Igugu to win the valuable Ready To Run Cup in November and the combination has been in irrepressible form since. The tight inner course is not ideal for Hollywoodboulevard and her style of racing from well off the early pace, but she had won a conditions race over the Three Troikas course-and-distance in mid-January and went off as the 16/10 favourite in this conditions event for threeyear-old fillies. Last season's Gr 1 winner Happy Archer was the 7/2 second favourite in her first start since a very disappointing effort behind Hollywoodboulevard in the Gr 3 Fillies Mile in November. Success Counts, a Gr 3 winner in November at Happy Archer's expense on much more favourable weight terms than these, was the 5/1 third choice in a field of eleven. Success Counts wasted no time in picking up the baton after the jump and went off to set a decent enough pace ahead of Without Malice and Wicomico, with Fair Rosalind and Chances Are next in line as Hollywoodboulevard settled towards the rear of the field. The favourite did encounter some traffic problems racing
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into the first turn, but would almost certainly have been held up amongst the backmarkers even without it. Carey's Qui was last of all as Success Counts steered them into the straight, where she soon came under pressure as Without Malice loomed up alongside. Success Counts and Fair Rosalind began to back-pedal inside the last 300m, leaving Without Malice to make the best of her way home with Princess Of Light and Mina Salaam starting to unwind challenges wider out. Hollywoodboulevard, meantime, was starting to make eyecatching progress. Taking the brave route down the inside rail, she steadily ate into Without Malice's advantage and collared the latter close home before running on well to beat George Scott's gallant filly by half-a-length, while conceding 3 kgs to the runner-up. Mina Salaam ran on steadily to finish a length further away in third, but Princess Of Light couldn't find the necessary finishing kick inside the final furlong and was 2.25 lengths further behind in fourth. Happy Archer was never seen with a chance before she finished 4.5 lengths behind the winner in fifth, and while she may improve on what was her first appearance for 10 weeks this was still a well below-par effort from the daughter of Dubawi. Success Counts eventually finished eighth. Hollywoodboulevard had beaten Without Malice by four lengths in the Fillies Mile in No-
vember, but that was at level weights and � more significantly perhaps � that race was contested on the more galloping standside course. They will be back on the standside track for the Gr 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas on February 26th and it is very hard to visualize any of those who finished behind Hollywoodboulevard in the Three Troikas reversing that form. Hollywoodboulevard is trained by Charles Laird, who praised stable jockey Anton Marcus for stepping aside and allowing Figueroa to continue his excellent relationship with the winner. Laird also noted that he was reluctant to run his filly again on the inner course, but that he'd had no choice as she needed another outing ahead of the Fillies Guineas. Bred in Australia, Hollywoodboulevard is a daughter of Dubai World Cup winner Street Cry, a hugely successful sire whose progeny also include the terrific American mare Zenyatta. She is the fourth foal and first known winner of the unraced Filante mare Soneria and was purchased by Summerhill Stud as a weanling in Australia before being sold to her current connections for R900 000 at the 2009 Ready To Run Sale in Gauteng. Owned by Markus and Ingrid Jooste, Hollywoodboulevard has won five of her nine races and earned R1 142 175.
SCHEDULE ATTENDING TO VALUATION CERTIFICATE ESTATE LATE MR CLAASSEN
TRAINER: STEVEN JANSEN VAN RENSBERG
Date: Place:
NAME Ballerina Girl Bernadine Crimson Tide Emily Rose Hannah Green Hold the Dream Ice Eminence Ice on Fire Legal Lady Moonshine Lake Needles & Pins Pradella Sir Halley Supreme Strike The Berryman The Riddle
FRIDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2011 FAIRVIEW RACECOURSE
AGE 3yo 2yo 4yo 3yo 3yo 3yo 5yo 3yo 5yo 3yo 3yo 3yo 5yo 3yo 3yo 3yo SEX f f c f f f c f f f c f c c c c SIRE Mellifont Windrush Lake Coniston Requiem Victory Moon Mellifont Grey Eminence Surging River Mogok Mellifont Dynasty Silvano Silvino Supreme Flirt The Sheik Surging River DAM Bellaritza Arctic News Moscow Lady Chelsea Rose Royal Tune Ember Dream Break The Ice Ode To Joy Lady Advocate Pleine Lune Tin Legs Perfume Power Induli Indiscretion Mulberry Ruse ESTATE SHARE 100% 50% 66.66% 66.66% 55% 100% 100% 90% 33.33% 100% 25% 100% 25% 50% 100% 100%
For enquries please contact:
Emmanueal (Manny) Eagle : Estate Administrator, FNB Trust Services Wealth Segment Southern Life Gardens, Block E, 70 Second Avenue, Newton Park, PE, 6045 / PO Box 27521, Greenacres, 6057 Tel: 041 363 0773 ext 228 � Fax: 086 6357 872 � eeagle@fnb.co.za www.fnb.o.za / www.howcanwehelpyou.co.za
SPORTING POST � FRIDAY 11th - SUNDAY 13th FEBRUARY 2011
7
Gr3 Tony Ruffel Stakes at Turffontein last Saturday
Link Man took to a step up in trip like the proverbial duck to water when he ran out a very comfortable winner of the Tony Ruffel Stakes for three-yearolds over 1450m on the Turffontein inner course on Saturday, writes MATTHEW LIPS.
ink Man had failed narrowly twice in sprints against older rivals this season and was posting his first success since winning the Gr 1 Gold Medallion at Scottsville in May. For whatever reason, most punters seemed wary of Link Man's chances even though he was weighted to win easily if judged solely on merit ratings. He went off as a 33/10 shot after being priced up as the 11/ 10 ante-post favourite, in the face of strong support for both Shea Shea (who eventually headed the market at 16/10) and 2/1 second favourite Captain's Key. The other six runners included Gr 1 winning two-year-old Gold Onyx, but you could have got almost any price about them. Valor quickly worked his way to the head of affairs and set a solid pace from Bermuda Winter and Captain's Key, with Link Man and Shea Shea next in line. All of the "big three" in the market had every chance to
The Strongest Link
win the race in the straight, where it appeared for a while that Shea Shea was travelling particularly well behind the leaders. Captain's Key was the first to attack the frontrunning Valor, with Link Man moving into contention wider out, but in the end it proved to be something of a one-horse contest. Link Man swept the others aside with a decisive turn of foot and had the race won 100m from home as he romped clear under Anthony Delpech to beat Shea Shea by 2.25 lengths. The runner-up had every chance and was not disgraced, but when push came to shove he simply had no answer to the turn of foot of a winner who was rated five pounds his superior by the handicappers and who was meeting the strongly supported market leader at level weights. Captain's Key finished three-quarters of a length behind Shea Shea in third and the same margin ahead of his stable companion Valor in fourth, but Gold Onyx never got going at all and finished last, 10.75 lengths behind the winner. Gold Onyx has now disappointed three times from as many starts this season and looked a very far cry from the horse who came from the clouds to win the Gr 1 Premier's Champion Stakes at Greyville in July. Link Man, on the other hand, has most assuredly carried on with the excellent work he showed as a juvenile, when trained by Dennis Drier. The Tony Ruffel marked his first win from three attempts since he joined Mike de Kock, and the way he finished the race off must give him a lively chance of staying the 1600m of the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas on February 26th. Link Man is from the second crop of Danehill horse Toreador, who won up to 1600m and came within inches of capsizing champion Winter Solstice in the Gr 1 Gold Challenge over that distance, so there is every reason to think that De Kock's talented colt will also cope with a mile. Link Man is the second foal and first winner of Among Men mare Western Smoke, who was placed twice from only four starts. Owned by members of the Tawny Syndicate who bred him, Link Man has won four times from seven starts and earned R651 875.
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Link Man - swept the others aside with a decisive turn of foot
8
SPORTING POST � FRIDAY 11th - SUNDAY 13th FEBRUARY 2011
mailbag
Being able to claim association with Gr 1 winners is something everyone in racing strives to achieve. Being publically honoured by the owner of a Met winner as the agent that bought the horse is truly an honour. We thank Hassen Adams for his gracious acknowledgment and wish him every success in future with Past master. Readers of my eNews must be perplexed to read Robin Louw's coverage of the Met entitled "Poster Boy with the Painted Face". I admire Robin's reporting and have corresponded to inform her that she has been sadly misinformed. Dean Kannemeyer and I viewed Past Master at the 2008 National Yearling Sales, more than once, and put him on the buying list. We'd both had past association with the family and decided that he'd be a good "spec-buy" at the right price. He was lot 62 in the green pages and as a son of the mighty Jet Master he was a very good buy at R375 000. We didn't have a buyer but in the scheme of things this was never a problem � we'd only just started buying anyway and were sure to find clients later, as we always did. Robin's coverage quotes Dean as having incorrectly stated: "Despite not having a buyer, the funds or even a buyers card, Dean was so impressed with the colt that he persuaded John Freeman to sign for him". Let me set the record straight:- firstly Dean did have a buyers card and actually is on record at that very sale as 8th leading buyer by average (R650 000). Secondly as an experienced yearling selector and buyer I do not act as a clearing house for other peoples selections. I don't put myself on the line at any sale by "signing " for a horse that I would not buy myself. The moment you sign for any purchase you are the principal buyer and carry the risks associated with ownership. You must really like the horse you are buying and be prepared to pay if you don't find a buyer. In the past I have kept pieces of horses that I bought "on spec". I have always operated on the basis that I am willing to put my money where my mouth is. If I like a horse and don't have a buyer we buy it and try and put it together later. If I get left holding a share � that's part of the job. Hassen Adams bought the horse within days of him being sold and even before the horse left the sales ring and he paid for the horse and our commission promptly. Not as Robin puts it when she says "while he was stretching his legs out on the spelling farm, Dean went to work to find a buyer..." Hassen knows how he got the horse and has been gracious in his acknowledgement of our input. In my experience it's not unusual for wining connections in the excitement of the moment to forget to thank someone connected with their success, be it the breeder, the jockey, the trainer, assistant, groom, agent, the spelling farm or even his co-owners. Buying the right horses and getting them into the winners box requires a good team, in the cold light of day owners know who helped them get there but as the ones who pay the bills it is their right to pay tribute and frankly if in the excitement of the moment they forget � it's not important. What is important that the team acknowledge each other. via email - John Freeman
Sporting Post Letter's Page Policy Letters to The Sporting Post are welcome from anyone. While letters printed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Sporting Post, where the content is not libellous and the source is known, letters shall be published, when possible, as their authors intended. Replies are welcome, and every effort will be made to allow participants to make their positions clear, for as long as there is interest in the thread.
Master of the Game
Qatar Veterinary Delegation Visits South Africa
NOMINATIONS
Gauteng Guineas
Link Man, the joint top-rated three-year-old in the country alongside Cape-based stars Run For It and What A Winter, is one of 26 first entries for the R1-million Gauteng Guineas (Grade 2) to be run over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday 26 February. The Gauteng Guineas forms the first leg of the SASCOC Triple Crown. The other two legs are the SA Classic over 1800m on 26 March and the SA Derby over 2450m on 30 April. Any horse who takes the honours in all three races receives a R2-million bonus for winning the Triple Crown. No fewer than nine horses are rated 100 and above in a powerful list of entries. They include Shea Shea (second to Link Man in the Tony Ruffel Stakes), Galileo Destiny, who finished second in both the Graham Beck Stakes (to Kavanagh) and the Dingaans, Approachable, who finished fourth in the Dingaans, PE raider The Plunderer, Dingaans fifth Snowdon and Gold Onyx, who has been disappointing this season. First entries have closed for the R500,000 Gauteng Fillies Guineas, the first leg of the Triple Tiara that carries a R1-million bonus for a filly winning the Grade 2 race and the SA Fillies Classic and SA Oaks. The list of nominations sets up an exciting rematch between top-class fillies Hollywoodboulevard, who scored her fourth consecutive victory in the Three Troikas Stakes last weekend, and De Kock top-class Igugu. Hollywoodboulevard, who has bounded into the limelight since being ridden by Guillermo Figueroa, beat Igugu by a length in the Ready-To-Run Cup last year but many believe Igugu is better than that.
or Letters can be faxed a: ailed to Karel Miedem eM iaf ric a.c om sp os t@ Fax: (021) 761 4003 used, Pseudonyms may be and vided the full name pro s of the sender are addres . supplied to the editor
Qatar delegates visiting Klawervlei Stud (top from left: Dr Aileen Pypers; Dr Beverley Zietsman; Dr Gary Burhmann; Dr Mamdouh El-Maghrabi; Dr Yousef Kassab; Prof Alan Guthrie; Mr Abdulaziz Alzeyara; Mrs Lana-Anne Koster; Mr John Koster. Front from left: Mr Peter Gibson and Mr Essam Mohamed)
Last week the SA Veterinary Services and industry sponsor, the SA Equine Trade Council, hosted a delegation of veterinarians from Qatar who came to inspect South Africa's AHS control measures with a view to establishing a protocol that allows direct imports to Qatar.
Currently, horse imports from South Africa are required to travel via Europe, significantly impacting the cost of delivery (additional cost estimated to be US$15 000/horse) and the conditioning of the horses which are exposed to new climatic conditions and diseases en route to their final destination. In recent years, Qatar's racing and equestrian business has expanded dramatically and in 2006 they successfully hosted the Asian Equestrian Games in Doha. As one of the wealthiest of the Gulf States, they have the means to expand their equestrian programme and their sponsorship of the Prix de l' Arc de Triomphe, Europe's richest race, is a clear indication of their intention to strengthen thoroughbred horseracing in Qatar. Mr Abdulaziz Alzeyara led the Qatar delegation and was accompanied by Dr M El-Maghrabi (Quarantine Specialist, Qatar Government) and Dr Y Kassab (Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club) with Mr Essam Mohamed as official interpreter. The delegation was officially welcomed by Dr D Keet (Acting Director of SA Veterinary Services) at the opening meeting in Pretoria before travelling to Cape Town to inspect South Africa's AHS Controlled Area and pre-export quarantine at Kenilworth Quarantine Station. Dr Gary Burhmann (Chief State Veterinary Officer, Western Cape), Prof Alan Guthrie (Director Equine Research Centre) and Dr Beverley Zietsman (Racing SA veterinary liaison) accompanied the delegation with Peter Gibson representing South Africa's Equine Trade interests. The itinerary incorporated a trip over the Hottentots Holland Mountain Range, one of the major physical barriers that form part of South Africa's AHS Controlled Area and which defines the boundary between the Surveillance Zone and the Protection Zone. John and LanaAnne Koster of Klawervlei Stud kindly hosted the delegation for lunch before returning to the Surveillance Zone via the Franschoek Pass to visit the Rupert family's Drakenstein Stud. The 450km covered during the day puts the scale of the AHS Controlled Area into perspective when considering that the Surveillance Zone alone is bigger than Qatar itself. An inspection of Kenilworth Quarantine Station, South Africa's official pre-export quarantine facility, was scheduled for the following day and Manager, Sue Mutch, walked the delegation through the various standard operating procedures applied at the quarantine station which included a detailed explanation of the principles behind the vector-protection. Kenilworth's March 2011 shipment of 36 horses had started official quarantine the day before which offered the visitors a real quarantine experience. The delegation then returned to Pretoria where they visited Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, South Africa's internationally accredited laboratory, and Equine Research Centre, where Prof Alan Guthrie was able to expand on the various research projects currently in progress including the new PCR diagnostic test for AHS and the development of a new vaccine for AHS. The closing meeting with the Director of Veterinary Services was held at Delpen Building, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. In terms of procedure, the Qatar delegation is expected to present a detailed report to the Qatar Government following which formal negotiations will commence between the respective veterinary departments to discuss the conditions under which South Africa is able to export horses to Qatar. With South Africa having been the first African country to have hosted the Football World Cup and Qatar being the first of the Middle East countries to do the same in 2022, there is much common ground between the two countries and it is hoped that equestrian ties can be strengthened.
Big-race entries for Saturday 26 February:
R1-million Gauteng Guineas (Gr2) 1600m
LINK MAN 111 Mike de Kock KAVANAGH 106 Mike de Kock SHEA SHEA 106 Geoff Woodruff PERANA (AUS) 105 Mike de Kock GALILEO DESTINY 104 Charles Laird APPROACHABLE 103 Weiho Marwing THE PLUNDERER 102 Gavin Smith SNOWDON 101 Ormond Ferraris GOLD ONYX (NZ) 100 AT Sean Tarry WESTERN FRONT 98 Charles Laird THE ASSAYER 97 Mike de Kock VALOR 96 Mike Azzie NOT LIABLE 95 Charles Laird FIDELIS 93 Charles Laird SUPER TROUPER 91 St John Gray GOOD ON YOU 88 Charles Laird MONEY GRUBBER 86 Gavin van Zyl THE RAJ 86 Mike de Kock CAPTIVE ACTION 84 Paul Matchett CITY OF BELLS 84 Mike Azzie DRUM MASTER 84 Weiho Marwing SEPTEMBER WIND 84 Gary Alexander LANCEWOOD 83 Mike Azzie PAINTYOURFACE 83 Roy Magner ROMAN WALL 83 Sean Tarry TROUBLED WATERS 81 Sean Tarry TELL TITCH (G V Woodruff); EARL OF SURREY (G V Woodruff); EMIR (D J Nieuwenhuizen); GALILEO'S GALAXY (C Laird); IRON CURTAIN (R R Sage); JAMAICAN DREAM (M G Azzie); KAVANAGH (M F De Kock); LIGHTNING LECTURE (D J Nieuwenhuizen); LINK MAN (M F De Kock); LOCHLORIEN (M G Azzie); MISS TURBULENCE (W H Marwing); OPENING NIGHT (C Binda); OZYMANDIAS (W H Marwing); POLAR MOON (S G Tarry); REBEL KNIGHT (G M Alexander); REGAL RANSOM (S G Tarry); SHEA SHEA (G V Woodruff); SMANJEMANJE (T Zackey); THANDOLWAMI (C Eudey); THE ASSAYER (M F De Kock); VALOR (M G Azzie).
R165,000 Acacia Hcp (Gr3)1600m:
R500,000 Gauteng Fillies Guineas (Gr2) 1600m
HOLLYWOODBOULEVARD 103 C Laird IGUGU (AUS) 103 Mike de Kock FAIR ROSALIND 101 Paul Matchett HAPPY ARCHER (AUS) 100 STarry WITHOUT MALICE 96 George Scott MINA SALAAM 94 Roy Magner STORMY COAST 94 George Scott WELWITSCHIA (GB) 89 Mike de Kock RUNNING RIVULET 87 Weiho Marwing PRINCESS OF LIGHT 85 G Woodruff PIMPINELLA 83 Gary Alexander BEAUTIFUL YOU 82 Sean Tarry BERRY BLAZE (IRE) 80 Mike de Kock SEPTEMBER MORN 77 Dianne Stenger
R300,000 Hawaii Stakes (Gr2) 1400m
ACROSS THE ICE (S G Tarry); ARABIAN MIST (G M Alexander); ASLAN (S G Tarry); AUTUMN GOLD (S G Tarry); BULSARA (G H Van Zyl); CALL TO COMBAT (S J Gray); CAPTAIN SCOTT (A G Laird); DON'T
ALL AFIRE (A G Laird); AUTUMN GOLD (S G Tarry); BEAUTIFUL YOU (S G Tarry); BELLA JET (B P Maroun); CANDY SINGER (M F De Kock); CAREY'S QUI (A G Laird); CATHERINA LADY (D N Stenger); CHECCETTI (M F De Kock); DANCEWITHTHEDEVIL (S J Gray); ENGAGEMENT (S J Gray); ESTEREL (D N Stenger); FILLY BUSHWACKER (G H Van Zyl); FISANI (M F De Kock); GENEROUS ANNA (C Laird); GIVE ME FIVE (S G Tarry); GLUWEIN (M F De Kock); HEADSTRONG (M F De Kock); LADY MAGPIE (A D Gordon); LISA ANNE (G M Alexander); MISS TURBULENCE (W H Marwing); PRINCESS OF LIGHT (G Woodruff); QUEEN MIRA (G Woodruff); QUICK SINGLE (G Woodruff); STELLA MIA (A Laird); SYNCOPATE (O A Ferraris); TREE OF PERFECTION (P F Matchett).
For Value Nothing Beats Vintage
Equimark Sales Centre Durbanville Racecourse
Contact: Amanda Carey Tel: 021 873 7755. Cell: 082 657 0665 email: amanda@equimark.co.za
www.equimark.co.za
5th March, Saturday - 6th March, Sunday
SPORTING POST � FRIDAY 11th - SUNDAY 13th FEBRUARY 2011
9
How The International World Sees The Cape Sale
On January 27th and 28th, Bloodstock South Africa set an example to the rest of the Bloodstock world as to what is achievable when the combined forces of Government and high powered private enterprise are harnessed in one focused objective. In less than one year, the seed of an idea (to hold a select sale of yearlings in central Cape Town) germinated to produce a spectacle that has never been seen before. Three hundred yearlings were housed, paraded and sold in a totally enclosed convention centre just yards away from the Central Business District of this beautiful city, minutes from the iconic V & A Waterfront complex and all nestled below one of nature's most recognisable landmarks of Table Mountain, reports GRANT PRITCHARD-GORDON
Bloodstock industry with a significant boost to staff morale and care throughout the region. Indeed, the Government involvement was noticeable from the start of proceedings when The Prime Minister Premier of the Western Cape Province made the opening address. At the end of two evenings of sales, 214 yearlings had changed hands for an average of 410,000 Rand (� 40,000) and a gross aggregate of 88,000,000 Rand ( nearly 9 million pounds). Records were set for highest yearling prices ( 2,500,000 Rand ) and highest aggregate of any sale in The Western Cape, but the real relevance of the results was that purchasers from both South Africa and many other countries had been attracted to attend the sale. Hopefully the future is assured for this event and the organisers can build on the momentum to both improve the quality of the stock and also attract more overseas investment. There were many agents and trainers from other countries in attendance to witness the proceedings and hopefully they will return with clients next year. The script will be that South Africa raises excellent bloodstock at very affordable prices and a visit to Cape Town in January to purchase yearlings can be a very enjoyable experience. South African-breds have been winning on the world stage for very many years, despite the restrictions imposed on travel relating to African
Visit to Dr Andreas Jacob's Maine Chance Farm in Robertson. Andreas also owns Newsells Park in England and Gestut Fahrhof in Germany
he project was driven by some business names of worldwide prominence, who just all happen to be major breeders in The Western Cape Province. The Bloodstock South Africa team and the delegated organisers had both access and positive input from the leaders of Steinhoff and Investec. No wonder that the event was so beautifully organised and a pleasure to attend. No detail was overlooked and apparently little expense spared to ensure that the yearlings had excellent stabling, the vendors were afforded spacious parade areas and hospitality facilities, the prospective purchasers were pampered with faultless viewing and entertainment arrangements, while the population of Cape Town were welcome onlookers to an extraordinary spectacle. The Government of The Western Cape Province must be congratulated in recognising the enormous potential of this project to advance many facets of political relevance. They funded much of the expenditure and together with the Department of Trade & Industry, also introduced a unique scheme whereby foals were bought for workers cooperatives and resold at this auction, with the direct result that the many hard working staff became stake holders in the Bloodstock Industry. This scheme is scheduled for major expansion in future years and will become a major source of valuable funding for the
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Horse Sickness. Mike de Kock has won over one hundred races in Dubai, principally with South African horses such as Lizard's Desire, Victory Moon, Ipi Tombe and Sun Classique. Further afield JJ The Jet Plane and Irridescence have won International races in Hong Kong. Perfect Promise and Dane Julia have won at the highest level in Australasia, while Crimson Palace was a Grade 1 winner in Chicago for Godolphin and Gypsys Warning recently won the Matriarch S. G1. There is no doubt that a South African bred horse can be competitive anywhere in the world. It is hard to pinpoint the reason for the international success of South African horses. The current leading sires in Captain Al and Jet Master are both South African bred stallions . The old brigade of Western Winter and Fort Wood were both imports. The rising stars of Silvano and Var were top class performers in Europe with non-commercial pedigrees. Two recent imports in Trippi and Black Minnaloushe have sired Group 1 winners overseas and their stock were keenly sought after at the yearling sales. So the future is rosey on the stallion front and South African breeders have recently been keen purchasers of well bred females from America, Europe and Australasia. The quality of future yearling catalogues will steadily improve in the near future. The most interesting news for South African racing was
the recent announcement that a major international race is being planned for 2012. The L'Ormarins Queen's Plate is rumoured to become a million dollar race open to overseas horses. Again, there has been enormous joint efforts between Government and the Bloodstock Industry to facilitate such a major step on to the world stage. Kenilworth racecourse in Cape Town compares favourably with any major track in Europe and Australasia. There is a convenient gap in the racing calendar between Hong Kong and Dubai for an International Mile race, providing yet another mouth-watering venue for any owner with a good enough horse to travel. However, such a race would be far more important in promoting South African horses to overseas purchasers. This is the prime aim. Cape Town in January is a magical place to visit. Cloudless blue skies, exquisite food and wine, stunning scenery and a very friendly welcome await all racing enthusiasts that fly south for winter warmth. Hopefully the results from this initial Cape Premier Sale will encourage Bloodstock South Africa to continue with the experiment in 2012. If so, then this should be a firm diary date to attend.
For the last few years I have been on a huge kick about people in this bu siness always coming up with negatives. And being self-employed, I can cer tainly talk all day about the nega tives. Great fun and exc iting stories we seem to ne ver get enough of - op ening day at Del Mar, The Melbourn e Cup or the great exp erience of racing at Royal Ascot - just to name a few. Nothing pleases me mo re than to relate this sto which started around the ry end of December when invited to South Africa to the Inaugural Cape Pre I was mier Yearling Sale. Boarding the plane on January 21 no idea what lay ahead. st, Are these people amate I had ur horse breeders in darkest Afr ica?! I really didn't kno w what to expect. Selling yearlin gs in January in the So uthern Hemisphere is like sel ling in June in the North ern Hemisphere. In other wo rds, very early!! From the time I was pic ked up at the airport in Cape Town, there was nothin g amateur at all about this operation or these peop le. Horse men and wo men like me from 15 countries we re embraced by knowle dgeable professionals. We were tre of the most outstanding ated to drivers, trips to some stud farms I have ever seen, treated to lunch, wine-t astings, dinners at som e fantastic restaurants, day trips an d, frankly, whatever we wanted. They were there to help and promote. The hospi tality was outstanding. The opening of the sal e was kicked off with coc and hors d'oeuvres, foll ktails owed by a most outsta nding performance by one of South Africa's leading singin dancing groups. We we re further treated to a pro g/ on a huge screen showin duction g the accomplishments of some of South Africa's great horses that have perfo rmed at the very top level of racing all over the world. The sale yearlings we re a very well-selected group � mature, with good bone and size, and to be hone st, a lot more forward than North American yearlings in summer. The last day was a trip to 20 minutes outside of Ca Kenilworth Race Course just pe Town with three G1 'S and a G2 on the race card. I was very excited!! Th e horses looked outstanding as their coats sparkled in the African sun. Everyone was dre ssed in style, with the att endance reported over 50,000+ . Th the air as we all bet, talk ere was a fantastic buzz in ed horses, and enjoyed the wonderful South Africa n hospitality. Thank you to all of the South African horse me n and women. You not only sold me on your horse s, but also on your wonderful cou ntry and your kind and gracious people. Alistair Roden- Bloo dstock LLC. Kentuck y, USA.
Letter to the Thoroughbred Daily News
Bernard Kantor, MD Investec Bank UK Four agents at the summit : Ignacio Pavolovsky with Markus Jooste, CEO Steinhoff (Arg), Robin Bruss (SAf), Gareth Pepper (SAf), International enjoying the Cape Sale Grant Pritchard-Gordon (GB)
Will Haggas (GB), Investec Bank's Bernard Kantor (SAf), Ali Al Qama (Dubai) and Chris Van Niekerk (SAf)
Summerhill Stud boss Mick Goss, English agent Charlie GordonWatson, Singapore trainer Pat Shaw, and SAf owner Phil Georgiou
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SPORTING POST � FRIDAY 11th - SUNDAY 13th FEBRUARY 2011
The Big Ones Come From The National Sale
Not All
MOTHER RUSSIA - 4 x Gr1 wins
Gr1 Winning Graduates in the last year
Gr1 Captain's Gal
Gr1 Pocket Power - 9x Gr1 wins
Gr1 Ivory Trail
Gr1 Ancestral Fore
Cape Yearling Sale
Friday, 4th March 2011 at Sandringham Farm, Cape Town
BloodStock South Africa PO Box 827, Germiston 1400, South Africa Tel: 011 323 5700 � Fax: 011 323 5788 Contact Caroline Simpson Tel: 011 323 5700 � Fax: 011 323 5788 e-mail: caroline@tba.co.za � website: www.tba.co.za
SPORTING POST � FRIDAY 11th - SUNDAY 13th FEBRUARY 2011
11
grace � the epitome of a great racehorse. It is easy for the heart to rule the head, but lightly raced as he has been, one wonders if there may be more to come. So for now, we say au revoir POCKET POWER, son of Jet Master . Thanks for the incredible ride! Pocket, we salute you!
Arthur and Rina Webber
As owners of Jet Master , the sire of Pocket Power, we have watched with pride & joy, the performance of the "Peoples' Champion" over many years. We have seen him establish records which will stand for a long time & we believe he is one of the finest racehorses ever to have raced in South Africa. His retirement is the publics' loss, but we are sure everyone will wish him a long & happy rest.
of his own but as you know, can be very difficult to, especially on his way to be saddled up, but once he got into the enclosure he became very focused and never gave me any hassles. But for as silly as he can be, never did you see an easier and more relaxed horse during a race. When it came to racing he was a true professional. After he won, all he ever wanted to do is to get back to his feed trough, so it made my job fairly difficult trying to parade him for the press. He spent his life bumping, pushing, shoving and barging me, but that was just Pocket, and there will never be another horse like him. I will forever miss his unique personality and sheer brilliance.
Robert Fayd'Herbe
I sincerely hope that people don't compare Pocket Power with other turf legends. He is a legend; no doubt, he is the peoples' champion and the King of Kenilworth. He has reduced grown men to tears and forged friendships between people who would never otherwise have connected, that's why he is so special. Let's not try to compare Pocket Power with any other racehorse, he is unique � one of a kind! I am privileged and humbled to be mentioned in the same sentence as Pocket, he is my ultimate equine blessing. As with so many legends who have left us, we will only truly appreciate his greatness once he is gone. It might take a few years, but in time his legend will grow. Pocket has made a difference to my life and I know he has done so for many others.
Henry & Pat Devine.
What can one write about Pocket that has not already been written. Suffice to say that it has been a pleasure and a privilege working with a horse of his calibre and class. He will be sorely missed.
his chest. This is " POCKET"" he is the best of the best , absolutely magnificent. At the start, his jock dismounts to take the weight of his back , only the best carry top weight and "POCKET" is the best of the best. The starter calls the field in line, his jock mounts, he is the last to load, and he rushes the gate, Why? - " POCKET" is the best of the best. He jumps smartly, the race is on, settling midfield with an easy action, and then he turns for home, his jock steadies him, pulls him out from behind the other runners, his stride lengthens, his jock says c'mon boy, the jocks crop flows by his side and you have horsepower in full action, every muscle taught , bold ,gleaming in the sun. That is "POCKET" he is the best of the best. He hits the line a winner again, head dipped low he now's how to win, all are jubilant its a sight to behold ,a racing legend of Kenilworth and South Africa ,to see him in action has been lifetime experience to be treasured by all horse lovers , that's our "POCKET" he is the best of the best.
Rodney Dunn
In paying tribute to Pocket Power I have two major regrets:- firstly that racing did not capitalise on his potential as a name to bring more people to the track until near the end of his career. He was the most likely horse in modern history to use as a marketing tool � not only because he was so great but because he was so great for so long. Secondly I lament that Pocket Power is not an entire for I would give my eye teeth to be able to add him to my portfolio of stallions � what a horse! His fantastic wins thrice denied my stallions championships in the sire logs through the R10m he added to his sire Jet Master's earnings, and he also beat my clients and the horses that we chose for them. Yet we still grew to love him as if he were one of ours. It was agony at first and at one time I wished that he'd get sold overseas so that we could all have a chance to win. But as one does, his prowess as a champ made him creep into our hearts and every time he ran, even if we had association with another horse in the race with a sneak of a chance, we acquiesced � to be beaten by Pocket Power was almost an honour. Beating him, as we did with Ivory Trail � just once, was a major triumph. But we had to break a 53 year old record to do that. I went to the Bass Stable to visit him and was amazed. There he stood unassuming and calm. But there was something about the way he held himself � proud! It made you want to just stand there and admire him and wonder � why? How did this horse get to be so great? What made the difference? We all know that he had niggling issues as a youngster and that he was brought along skilfully by the master of all Cape trainers. But no-one could give him the heart and courage that he possessed. This was inherited and amazingly so. Well done Mike and Candice and everyone associated with him. Marsh, Arthur and Rina � I know that you never took him for granted. Count your lucky stars � they don't make them like him often. A once in a lifetime opportunity. Well done to Dan de Wet and to Henry and Pat for Jet Master's superb statistics. > cont on page 13
Trevor Taylor
Having so far enjoyed a career that spans over 35 years few horses attach themselves strongly to your heartstrings but Pocket was one of those courageous champions that I could never forget. He was plagued with so many problems and after each race you were never sure if Mike and his team would be able to piece him together again but through their excellent work and a horse with a heart of a lion he always came back and proved he was a great champ. Even after I left South Africa my heart always belonged to the Pocket and nothing made me happier then when the champ continued to win for my great friends Mike, Marsh and Bernard. South Africa will truly miss this great horse on their racetracks.
Pocket Power has officially retired from racing, and so we pay homage to the end of a magnificent era, and pay tribute to a horse that has changed the face of South African horse racing history. It has been said that longevity is the hall mark of the truest Champion. Well he comes no bigger, We have been treated to six years of amazing racing which included 20 career victories, nine of which at group 1 level and shattered numerous records along the way � The first horse to win the Winter Triple Crown; unbeaten in the Gr2 Green Point Stakes from three starts; four consecutive Gr1 Queens Plate's and three consecutive Gr1 J&B Mets, and who could forget the courageous Vodacom Durban July dead heat with Dancer's Daughter. Pocket Power only ever lost one race from 10 starts over the Kenilworth mile, the last of which he placed 4th when attempting to equal Kelso's world record of 5 consecutive grade 1 races in his last Queens Plate. He was placed on 17 occasions and only ever finished out of the money 6 times from his 43 appearances while earning his owners more than R10 million(after bonuses) It has been a marvellous privilege for us to train such a magnificent thoroughbred and on a personal level, I have been afforded the great opportunity to document and journalise his career from the very beginning, up close and personal, which has been a rare and unique privilege for me. With a character, heart, and a record like no other, we pay tribute to the great, Pocket Power - Mark Bass!
hat can I say about this champion than has not been seen already? It was a real privilege and honour for me to be a part of this legacy and it goes without saying that he is the best horse I have, and most probably will ever sit on. He is a real Champion in every aspect of the word. To the Big Boy- Thanks for the memories and all the good times we have shared. May you relax and enjoy the grass paddocks in the next phase of your life! Lastly, A special thanks to my legendary trainer Gandalf the Great, for without him, I assure you there would have been no Pocket Power! Great job Boss!
Marsh Shirtliff
"One of the legends of the turf is at the finish line, having stamped himself as the undisputed peoples champion." One of the oldest conundrums of sport is when to retire a champion. History is strewn with names of legends who stayed on too long. Great boxers, formula one drivers, cyclists and tennis players have all struggled to accept the end of their era. At least golfers are able to wander off and compete with their own age group on the senior's tour. Other sport, horse racing included, has no space for sentiment, no respect for past achievements." Quote per kind favour of Gary Lemke Where, in this wide world, can man find nobility without pride, friendship without envy, or beauty without vanity? Here, where grace is laced with muscle, and strength by gentleness confined. He serves without servility. He has fought without enmity. There is nothing so powerful, nothing less violent. There is nothing so quick, nothing more patient. Our past has been borne on his back, all our history is his industry. We are his heirs, He our inheritance.
Jeff Lloyd
Throughout history we look at champions with great admiration and respect. There are no words that can describe how much Pocket Power contributed not only to the horse industry, but to those who were not even involved in horses. It will be a long time before many of his records will be broken; he is one of the greatest horses South Africa has ever produced. Congratulations to all the connections of this great athlete!
W
Pocket our beloved champion. Thank You for bringing so much joy into our lives. May you have a wonderful retirement and long may you live!
Gary Player
Pocket Power has been part of my life for the last 6 years. From the first time he caught my eye up until now, he has never ceased to amaze me. He is certainly the best horse I have trained and the bravest too. We had a great relationship and he never once let me down, although I at times may have let him down. I will have wonderful memories of training him for all those great races and will be eternally grateful that he came into my life.
Carol Bass
What a thrilling, life-changing and humbling experience it has been ...... to co-own one of the greatest horses this country has ever produced. We bought him on his pedigree qualifications, telephonically and thanks to the wise, very wise, input of Terry Silcock, of Starston Stud. The magnanimity of Marsh Shirtliff, a racing legend in his own time, secured us a share in this great horse, bred by Dan de Wet of Zandvliet Stud. The further input by maestro, Mike Bass, his entire team and jockey Bernard Fayd'herbe, culminated in this magnificent animal achieving such incredible feats of racing glory � albeit at times under physically difficult, race-threatening conditions. We thank them all. We have made tremendous friends, have met so many interesting people from all walks of life, South Africans as well as those from distant shores, with whom we have been able to share this amazing Pocket Power experience. At his post J & B Met canter past, where the peoples' champion was seen to reduce grown men to tears, he moved with consummate ease and
Andrew Bon
The Dream of a Lifetime, was to see him in action. Every racehorse owner in the world with passion for the grace and power of the Thoroughbred horse would love him, a true character of the turf, with quirks that makes him unique, The parade, his majestic trot in front of the grandstands, then suddenly the switch of the head, throwing his large frame around as he breaks to the start flowing into a canter, head tucked into
Bernard Fayd'Herbe
It is only the privileged and fortunate few who get to cherish the emotionally charged opportunity of being associated with a champion racehorse.And then are those who get to take that extra quantum leap into history and immortality courtesy of a wonder horse.Such a horse is Pocket Power � a giant amongst men!
Mike Bass
What can I say about Pocket? I got to know him pretty well and what a character he was. Pocket was a nice horse to work with but never an easy horse, he was full of life and always kept me on my toes. He has a mind
Robert Bloomberg
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SPORTING POST � FRIDAY 11th - SUNDAY 13th FEBRUARY 2011
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SPORTING POST � FRIDAY 11th - SUNDAY 13th FEBRUARY 2011
SPORTING POST � FRIDAY 11th - SUNDAY 13th FEBRUARY 2011
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13
Tribute to a Champion
During his early rise to fame I remember cursing Pocket Power for always being so hard to beat. I even said during an interview that he was just well placed and lucky. How foolish of me to ever think that way. He was that and more! Truly magnificent, majestic, charismatic and so very good for racing. He was our Zenyatta, our Sea Bird, our star! He grew so much into the hearts of anyone with the remotest interest in racing that on the day that his retirement was announced we all stood on the balcony at Kenilworth and wept. I was so embarrassed at the tears in my eyes that I ran down the stairs to compose myself and ran straight into Marsh and started all over again � one could never escape what he meant to us all. Pocket � I know that Marsh and Arthur and Rina will ensure that you have whatever you need for the rest of your life to be loved and comfortable. My most fervent wish is that you will come back to the track now and then and show us how well you look so that can all share your beauty.
Down The Rabbit Hole
`Sometimes people try to drag you down to their level because it's easier than working their way up to yours' � Lynn Bannerman
John Freeman
Being associated and having worked with Pocket Power will stay with me as long as I live. He has been a very special part of my life and I will treasure all those special moments. The "Ode to the Horse" is the epitome of what he stands for and I am going to miss him dearly. Never has a horse had such an emotional affect, good and bad on me and my family and it has been a wonderful journey. I bid him farewell and salute him for his brilliance and courage on and off the turf. I know he is going to have the best home with Belinda and we will be able to visit him often!
B
Candice Robinson
"For the last 4 years I have been privileged to watch and be a part of the extraordinary journey of Pocket Power. He is undeniably a world class champion and a legend of South Africa. It won't be the same without him, but Pocket has earned his rest and we thank him for his massive contribution to thoroughbred racing."
ut today, `they' win. I've tried. I've really tried. I've enjoyed the Cape racing season � it's been fun and exciting and everyone has gone out of their way to ensure that it's been a rollercoaster of entertainment. The great and good have done their best to market South African breeding and racing as world class. The Queen's Plate gave us glamour, the Met gave us glitz, and the Cape Premier Sale with its ambitious and fabulous venue provided us with theatre. It's been sad to say farewell to Pocket Power as well as exciting to see the new juveniles make their first forays out onto the track. I've resolutely tried to focus on the horses and the racing, I really have, but I'm afraid my patience and sense of humour have left the building. The past few months have served up a litany of irritations that have finally got the better of me. We've done the horses in the wrong stalls thing to death now, but that really has got to be one of my absolute favourite clangers of last year. Then the draw debacle. PE (sorry guys) is a constant source of bemusement with loose horses, late starts, badly positioned speakers, fallen jockeys, wrong race distances called, etc. It's become the rule, rather than the exception. But don't feel bad. The jewel of the Cape is not far behind. Hit and miss sound during the l'Ormarins Queen's Plate, (mostly miss for the first half of Met day), false starts and - a Met runner no less - being allowed to run. The entire race. With a hood on! It beggars belief. And yet, it's on the Met day Stipes report in black and white. The utter absurdity and incompetence aside, it not only endangered the horse and rider in question, but the rest of the field with them. Another local horse was recently pronounced as having had an EIPH and the statutory suspension imposed. Unfortunately later, more thorough investigation (with like, some actual diagnostic equipment) showed this to be a misdiagnosis. Of course, no recourse was offered to the affected parties when the error was pointed out. And while we're discussing race day procedure, it may be a restricted area, but it's worth going to have a look at the stabling area behind the Kenilworth parade ring sometime. It's cramped, it's disorganised and with the highly strung, highly fed horses that make use of the area, is an accident waiting to happen. It is to the eternal credit of our long-suffering and often overlooked grooms that we haven't had any major disasters.
By now most of you are thinking that I'm being a bit precious, but these things directly affect the safety and welfare of my horse. To the transport company and the race day staff she may be just another horse. But to me that little horse represents year's worth of time, money, effort and emotional investment. I need to know that the people I have to trust her to recognise and understand that fact. My horse may not be a feature runner, but put her life in danger and you had better be prepared to meet your maker. I've said it before, we don't need to be big and we don't need to be clever, but we do need to get it right. Nonsense like basic raceday procedures cannot be allowed to be fouled up. Not because I'm being precious, but because having an organised, reliable system keeps my horse safe.
Is it just me, or do we seem to have our focus in all the wrong places here people? At the current point in time, I would like to suggest that it would be a little more profitable to focus on what people are doing than that people are saying. Apart from our administrators of course, who seem to say nothing. No acknowledgement, no explanation. Just radio silence. Now considering that a lie can travel twice around the world before the truth can get its boots on, doesn't it make sense, particularly in these jittery, uncertain times, to keep our industry supporters and participants involved and informed? Chances are that these things may already be being addressed in the corridors of power and in all likelihood there are some fantastically clever initiatives and plans being put into place. However, if that is the case, then thanks to the moratorium on addressing any issues in public, we will never be any the wiser. And what an absolutely fantastic concept that is. One would think that our board members and administrators are appointed by public vote to look out for the best interests of the industry. How then does it make any sense to completely refuse to engage with the people who put you all there in the first place? I must try telling my boss to shut up, pay my salary and sod off sometime and see how far that gets me.
the detriment of the community as a whole. The criticism is not personal folks, it's procedural. Stop being so precious and recognise it for what it is. There is no honour in avoiding the issues to try and save face. If nothing else, it's too bloody late for that anyway. Bringing racing into disrepute. Honestly. Nevermind maintaining the integrity of racing � at the moment we simply need to keep it from coming apart at the seams. Niggly little problems have been creeping in for years, but instead of meeting and addressing problems head on, there is this utterly nonsensical culture of non-communication. So we putty up and duck tape over the cracks and breaks until the very fibre of the industry is eroding from the inside out. According to their website, `the core function of the NHA Racing Division is to ensure that thoroughbred racing is provided with a competent and efficient racehorse and jockey control & monitoring service'. Gold Circle's mission statement says that it wants `To become the premier racing jurisdiction through managing, developing and ad